28 ALASKA RESOURCE REVIEW SUMMER 2024 1.7 million visitors came to Alaskan ports during 2023 BY RENÉE LIMOGE REEVE, VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION - ALASKA ALASKANS LOVE OUR STATE. We love the grandeur of open spaces, the clean water, fresh air, and abundant wildlife. Our affection is reinforced when we see the state through the eyes of visitors. In 2022, I was on a cruise ship bound for Alaska listening to awestruck travelers out on deck, taking in views of green forests and snow-capped mountains and excitedly talking about their plans for on shore. Their amazement and exclamations about the surrounding beauty reaffirmed for me how lucky we Alaskans are to live in such a special place. For those visiting Alaska, cruises are one of the best and most accessible ways to experience all that our great state has to offer. Cruise ships of various sizes bring 65 percent of Alaska’s summer visitors, touching many regions of the state. In 2023, 1.7 million cruisers saw our glaciers, shopped in locally owned businesses, dined in local restaurants, hiked trails, flew on helicopters and fixed-wing sightseeing tours, interacted with residents, and learned about Alaska’s Indigenous people through culturally immersive experiences. Sixty percent of cruise passengers crossing the Gulf of Alaska on ships stayed for land tour packages, riding the Alaska Railroad, or traveling by motorcoach to stay in Denali and area lodges. Cruise passengers headed up to Fairbanks, visited Kenai and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, spent time in Anchorage, and beyond. As a primary driver of visitors, the cruise industry plays a significant role in the $5.6 billion in economic impact and 50,000 jobs supported by tourism in Alaska. The cruise industry contributes to statewide communities directly through passenger fees, sales and property taxes, passenger spending, and direct purchases. These dollars cycle throughout the state’s economy, supporting businesses in all sectors. In Juneau alone, direct, and indirect impacts of cruise represent $490 million dollars in spending in the community in a single season. Cruise lines also actively and generously support nonprofits around the state. With intent-to-cruise strong worldwide among travelers, Alaska remains a leading market and wish-list destination. So how do we ensure that our state remains a great place to live and visit and control growth? The cruise industry believes the key is collaboration and partnerships forged through community conversations. Destination Stewardship is a key priority of the cruise industry. Alaska can and should be a state where residents have economic opportunity and prosperity, and cruise guests feel welcomed. It is in everyone’s interest to work together. Over the last three years we’ve seen positive examples of collaboration in the three groundbreaking Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) with the City and Borough of Juneau. These MOAs implemented recommendations put forth by the Visitor Industry Task Force, and cover everything from a commitment to minimizing the offloading of garbage to a five large ship per day limit in the city, and most recently, a daily passenger threshold. These MOAs take months of work and are only achieved through strong communication and a mutual commitment to seeking solutions for the community, for everyone’s benefit. They also demonstrate that this is an ongoing and evolving dialogue, and the industry remains a partner as we have been for decades. Committed to sustainable tourism, the cruise industry is looking to diversify the Alaska experience beyond tried-and-true routes and activities. In a significant development, a new Indigenous-owned port opened in Klawock on Prince of Wales Island in May. For cruise ships, Klawock accords a strategic alternative location for north and southbound itineraries. For the small community, the port brings much-needed job opportunities, replacing those lost when the local pulp mill closed. At established ports, new activities are coming online that will give visitors more to see and do, outside of downtown areas. Two great examples are a new gondola at Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau and a new theater experience at Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. Growing the list of ports and tour opportunities is a win/win for visitors and communities alike. At the same time, cruise lines continue to broaden their relationship with Alaska businesses by highlighting local products. As an example, Holland America Line, with six ships in Alaska this season, now serves thousands of pounds of certified sustainable Alaska seafood on every sailing. In ports throughout Alaska, local processors sell seafood directly to ships. In a single season in Sitka, for instance, more than 20 tons of local seafood was loaded onto cruise ships at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal. The cruise industry has demonstrated it is looking at the future responsibly, driving innovation and research in new technologies to protect the environment and oceans. The 50-plus cruise lines that are members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) are pursuing net-zero emissions by 2050. Those that sail Alaska’s waters are committed to keeping our communities the jewels that we locals know they are for generations to come. CRUISE INDUSTRY SUCCESS LAYS WITH COLLABORATION
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